Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve Tour
from US$ 31.89 per person
We pick you up at your hotel in central Ica and drive you in shared transport to the Paracas pier, where you board the speedboat wearing your life jacket. From the water you see the Candelabra, the geoglyph drawn in the sand, and then circle the Ballestas Islands watching sea lions and seabirds; in season, Humboldt penguins show up too.
Back on land, the tour continues through the Paracas National Reserve, where the desert meets the ocean among rock formations and red-sand beaches. It is a shared half-day tour with a guide in Spanish and English. Bring a windbreaker for the boat and sunscreen for the reserve.
Highlights
- The Candelabra and the Ballestas Islands from the boat, with life jacket
- Sea lions, seabirds and Humboldt penguins in season
- Red beaches and rock formations of the Paracas National Reserve
- Guide in Spanish and English, in groups of up to 20 people
- Sea and desert in half a day, with pickup at your hotel in central Ica
Gallery
- Duration
- Half day
- Schedule
- 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Capacity
- Up to 20 people
- Minimum age
- From 1 year old
- Service
- Shared
- Languages
- Spanish and English
Itinerary
Half a day of sea and desert: marine wildlife at the Ballestas Islands and the desert coast of the Paracas National Reserve.
Pickup in Ica
We pick you up at your hotel in central Ica and drive in shared transport to Paracas.
Boarding at the Paracas pier
You put on your life jacket and board the speedboat.
The Candelabra
From the sea you see the geoglyph drawn on the sandy hillside.
Ballestas Islands
Without landing, you circle the islands watching sea lions, seabirds and, in season, Humboldt penguins. The boat trip takes about 2 hours.
Paracas National Reserve
Back on land, you tour the red-sand beaches and rock formations of the reserve.
Return to Ica
Drive back to your hotel in central Ica.
Included
- Pickup at your hotel in central Ica
- Shared transport (Ica - Paracas - Ica)
- Speedboat trip to the Ballestas Islands, with life jacket
- Tour guide in Spanish and English
- Tour of the Paracas National Reserve
Not included
- Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve tourist ticket (adults S/ 22.00, children S/ 11.00)
- Pier tax
- Meals
Safety
- Speedboats with a life jacket for every passenger
- Bilingual tour guide
- Certified shared transport
- Established, monitored routes
Important
- All passengers must carry a valid, physical identity document.
- By SERNANP rules, children under 1 year old are not allowed on the pier or on the boat trip.
- The boat trip depends on sea and weather conditions.
- The boat trip takes about 2 hours.
- Wearing the life jacket is mandatory for the whole boat ride.
- Feeding the animals is not allowed; photos are taken without flash.
- A 50% deposit is required to confirm the booking.
- If you cancel up to 48 hours before, you get a full refund.
Frequently asked questions
Do you land on the Ballestas Islands?
No. The islands are a protected area: the boat circles them and you watch the wildlife from on board.
What animals can I see?
South American fur seals and sea lions with their pups, many species of seabirds and, in season, Humboldt penguins. Dolphins are sometimes spotted too.
How long is the tour?
It is a half-day tour scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; the boat trip takes about 2 hours. Since you leave from Ica, pickup and drop-off times at your hotel are arranged when you book.
Can young children come?
Yes, from age 1. By SERNANP rules, children under 1 year old are not allowed on the pier, so they cannot take the boat trip.
What is not included?
Meals, the pier tax and the Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve tourist ticket (adults S/ 22.00, children S/ 11.00) are not included.